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Uploaded: Friday, January 4, 2013, 1:42 PM
Bill approved to rename Mountain View post office after fallen soldier
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by Nick Veronin
Mountain View Voice Staff
It's official: The bill to rename a Mountain View post office branch as the Lieutenant Kenneth N. Ballard Memorial Post Office has passed in the Senate and is to become law, according to a release from the office of Rep. Anna G. Eshoo (D-Palo Alto).
Ballard, who lived in Mountain View since 1981, was killed in Iraq in May 2004.
The bill, endorsed by the Mountain View City Council in May 2012, was supported by the entire California congressional delegation, the release said.
"When duty called, Lt. Ballard answered for his country," Eshoo said in the release. "He was brave, courageous and a hero. For his service, he should be remembered and honored by our community."
Ballard was born in Rome, N.Y., in 1977. He graduated from Mountain View High School in 1995, and enlisted in the Army, serving in Germany, Bosnia, Macedonia and Iraq. He was killed in Najaf by the M-240 gun mounted on his convoy's vehicle, which accidentally discharged.
Highly decorated, Ballard received three bronze stars and the Purple Heart. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.Are you receiving Express, our free daily e-mail edition? See a sample and sign-up for Express.
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Posted by tommygee54, a resident of the Rex Manor neighborhood, on Jan 4, 2013 at 7:46 pm I think I will continue to call our PO the Mountain View Post Office. Sorry.
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Posted by Donald A. Wayne, a resident of another community, on Jan 5, 2013 at 6:32 pm I served with 1LT Ballard when he was killed in an Najaf. He was one hell of a Soldier and one hell of a leader. Truth is he deserves so much that we could never repay him for his sacrifice. He is the epitome of an American.
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Posted by reader, a resident of the Waverly Park neighborhood, on Jan 13, 2013 at 12:52 am Does anyone know how the Post Office became involved in this?
Everyone is going to continue to call it the post office. No one is going to call it the Ballard office. How much taxpayer money will it cost to change all the materials that feature the name of the post office? What is the plan if another soldier from MV dies?
Wouldn't it make a lot more sense to create some kind of tasteful memorial to those who served, and put all their names on it and be able to add names? Like a fountain or a sculpture or some other kind of public art?
I have complete respect for Mr. Ballard, I just question the act of renaming a post office,
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Posted by Jeffrey D. Todd, a resident of another community, on Mar 3, 2013 at 1:14 am I am appalled that people even have a negative response to this... How is any Federal, State, Local building, road, highway, interstate... ANYTHING!!!!! renamed???? It is an Honor that the Town should grasp upon and REMEMBER!!! that he is but only ONE SOLDIER that sacrificed his life for this country; and to have a post office named in his honor...IN YOUR TOWN!!!!! YOU SHOULD FEEL HONORED!!!!! That the Ballard family chose that building... your POST OFFICE.
I served with Ken for 3 years, and he deserves every right to have his name on that post office, WHAT HAVE YOU DONE????
Think before you speak...
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